In need of a portable Amp + DAC for AKG Q701

VenomIreland

So, planning to buy some AKG Q701s from America soon (going to be using them for music, movies and gaming), but I need a portable amp and a DAC for them (I could be persuaded to get a desktop amp + DAC if there exists a decent cheap portable amp/DAC combo to go along with it), what should I get that won't break the bank? I've been looking at the objective 2, but can't find any Euro/UK sellers. As for the DAC, I'm clueless.

dxhound2005

VenomIreland wrote: »

So, planning to buy some AKG Q701s from America soon (going to be using them for music, movies and gaming), but I need a portable amp and a DAC for them (I could be persuaded to get a desktop amp + DAC if there exists a decent cheap portable amp/DAC combo to go along with it), what should I get that won't break the bank? I've been looking at the objective 2, but can't find any Euro/UK sellers. As for the DAC, I'm clueless.

This is a dealer in the UK for the Objective 2 but I have no experience of dealing with them.

http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/ehp-o2-portable-audio-headphone-amplifier/

I am just wondering what price you are paying to get the Q701's from America. With the weak Euro and especially the probability of customs charges you might get a better price in Europe. Thomann in Germany seem to have a good price but again I have no experience of dealing with them.


http://www.thomann.de/ie/akg_q701_green.htm

From what I read over the years an amp which is supposed to match the K701's very well is the Heed Can Amp and the Q701's would be very similar to the K701's I think. I have a Can Amp sitting unused this last couple of years so if you wanted to try that out before buying anything else you could let me know. I have the V DAC which works very well with my current amp Audio-gd C-2C (Chinese) and my Sennheiser HD 650's.

http://www.heedaudio.hu/en/products/modular-line/canamp

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp

VenomIreland

dxhound2005 wrote: »

This is a dealer in the UK for the Objective 2 but I have no experience of dealing with them.

http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/our-products/ehp-o2-portable-audio-headphone-amplifier/

I am just wondering what price you are paying to get the Q701's from America. With the weak Euro and especially the probability of customs charges you might get a better price in Europe. Thomann in Germany seem to have a good price but again I have no experience of dealing with them.


http://www.thomann.de/ie/akg_q701_green.htm

From what I read over the years an amp which is supposed to match the K701's very well is the Heed Can Amp and the Q701's would be very similar to the K701's I think. I have a Can Amp sitting unused this last couple of years so if you wanted to try that out before buying anything else you could let me know. I have the V DAC which works very well with my current amp Audio-gd C-2C (Chinese) and my Sennheiser HD 650's.

http://www.heedaudio.hu/en/products/modular-line/canamp

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/V-Series/V-DAC/V-DAC.asp

I didn't know about Epiphany Acoustics, I'll give them a look.

I was going to get the Q701 for €300 including customs from amazon.com, but now I see the K702 on Thomann for €315, so I might go with that since I have heard they are very very similar. EDIT: They also have the K701 for €219, the K701 and K702 are essentially the same bar a removable cable, right? So why the ~€100 difference between the two?

As for the DAC, I do have an ok sound card (ASUS Xonar DX) so would a DAC really be essential? If I just got the Objective 2 and no DAC that would also mean one less piece of equipment to carry around.

Edited again because I recalled the price incorrectly.

dxhound2005

I have never listened to any of them so I would be reluctant to pass judgement. I would go with the Observe only for the present and you can always add a DAC later. My offer of a loan of the Heed CanAmp is there if you want to see how that sounds.

You probably know Head-fi.org, there should be some discussions on the forums there about the differences or similarities.

http://www.head-fi.org/f/3/equipment-forums

VenomIreland

Right then, thank you for the help, I've read some more on head-fi and I'm going to go ahead with the Q701 and Objective 2

Brian

I'm doing the same as you! Although I am waiting for the ODA/DAC combo instead, since I have no plans to use the Q701s out of the house; that's ... inadvisable.

VenomIreland

Brian wrote: »

I'm doing the same as you! Although I am waiting for the ODA/DAC combo instead, since I have no plans to use the Q701s out of the house; that's ... inadvisable.

I don't have plans to bring it out of the house either, the reason I wanted portable was so that it would be easier to move around the house as I went about, I could still go with a desktop amp, but seeing as the O2 fits both needs, I'm sorted, just need to save a little longer so I can get the amp :cool: Also need to save up to order some switches and 3.5mm jacks so I can make a switcher to switch between my headphones and speakers easily.

I just know that the headphones are going to arrive like a week before the amp does and it's going to drive me insane not being able to properly listen to them during that time

Brian

Weepsie wrote: »

Are the Q701s really worth nearly €200 euro more than the K701?

No, but neither I nor Venom are buying them in Europe. They are the same price or cheaper than K701s in the USA (~$260/€180).

Weepsie wrote: »

Same design, drivers and specs by the looks of things. Even the same weight. I expect extra mark up for endorsed headphones (sennheiser adidas hd 25 for example), but that seems a lot.

There are several testimonies on head-fi as to the Q701 sounding noticeably different to the K701/2s, with a somewhat fuller sound with slightly greater emphasis on low frequencies, counteracting the "thin" reputation of the K models. So while the sound is quite similar overall I think most people prefer the Q701s.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/594927/akg-q701-vs-akg-k702-comparison-review

VenomIreland

Just ordered them a few minutes ago, estimated arrival time for the headphones is between monday and wednesday

BanzaiBk

Did you get your Q701s Venom? Any thoughts?

VenomIreland

BanzaiBk wrote: »

Did you get your Q701s Venom? Any thoughts?

Yep, they are pretty damn good even without the amp, so I can't wait for that to arrive at the end of May.

WhiskeyGoblin

VenomIreland wrote: »

Yep, they are pretty damn good even without the amp, so I can't wait for that to arrive at the end of May.

If you don't mind me asking and it's not against forum rules, where did you buy them from?.. and what was the total price?